Skip to main content

Internet Arcade: Hang-On

Item Preview

[screenshot]

software
Internet Arcade: Hang-On

by Sega

Published 1985


Hang-On (ハングオン Hangu On?) is an arcade game released by Sega in 1985. It is the world's first full-body-experience video game. In the game, the player controls a motorcycle against time and other computer-controlled bikes. It was one of the first arcade games to use 16-bit graphics and Sega's "Super Scaler" technology that allowed pseudo-3D sprite-scaling at high frame rates. The game was also built into some versions of the Sega Master System. The title is derived from when the biker is turning and has to "hang on" to the bike while the bike is leaning, which Suzuki had read in a Japanese bike magazine, though Suzuki learned later the technique was called "hang off" in North America. Nevertheless, he chose to keep the former name.

The pseudo-3D sprite/tile scaling was handled in a similar manner to textures in later texture-mapped polygonal 3D games of the 1990s. Designed by Sega AM2's Yu Suzuki, he stated that his "designs were always 3D from the beginning. All the calculations in the system were 3D, even from Hang-On. I calculated the position, scale, and zoom rate in 3D and converted it backwards to 2D. So I was always thinking in 3D." The original arcade version was controlled using a cabinet resembling a motorbike, which the player moved with their body. This began the "Taikan" trend, the use of motion-controlled hydraulic arcade cabinets in many arcade games of the late 1980's, two decades before motion controls became popular on video game consoles.

Gameplay

Using a behind the motorcycle perspective, the player races a linear race track divided into several stages within a limited time. Reaching a checkpoint at the end of each stage extends the time limit. The game ends if the time runs out.

The arcade game contains in-game billboards for Bridgestone (and their Desert Dueler tires), Shell, Garelli Motorcycles, TAG, John Player Special cigarettes, Forum cigarettes, and for "Marbor", an obvious parody of Marlboro cigarettes. There would be a controversy over cigarette ads in games marketed to children upon the release of another Sega racing game, Super Monaco GP in 1989.

Arcade cabinet

There were three arcade cabinet designs—the usual upright machine only with a handlebar and brake levers (instead of a joystick and buttons),the upright machine with the addition of a seat and a third version which looked roughly like a real motorcycle. To steer, the player leaned to tilt the bike, which then steered the in-game bike. The screen was mounted into the windshield area of the bike.


1 Player Start 1
Coin 1 5
Coin 2 6
Service 1 9
Service Mode F2
Paddle Analog Mouse X
Paddle Analog Dec LEFT
Paddle Analog Inc RIGHT
P1 Pedal 1 Analog N/A
P1 Pedal 1 Analog Dec None
P1 Pedal 1 Analog Inc LCONTROL
P1 Pedal 2 Analog N/A
P1 Pedal 2 Analog Dec None
P1 Pedal 2 Analog Inc LALT


Identifier arcade_hangon
Emulator hangon
Emulator_ext zip
Mediatype software
Scanner Internet Archive Python library 0.7.0
Publicdate 2014-08-30 00:29:04
Addeddate 2014-08-30 00:29:04
Date 1985
Genre Driving / Race (chase view) Bike
Creator Sega
Cpu Z80
Year 1985
Emulator_keybd arcade
Backup_location ia905903_14

comment
Reviews

Reviewer: Dean1701 - favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite - September 7, 2015
Subject: What a fabulous racer
Blackpool ,Lancashire ,England 1986?
Ride on version with screen built into where the front fairing and speedo went.
The whole bike could tilt side to side. You could put you're feet on realistic foot pegs.
the music was great.the graphics were on par with Outrun,bold and colourful .
info Stream Only
In Collection
Internet Arcade
Uploaded by
Jason Scott
on 8/30/2014
Views
328,241
Favorites
21
Reviews
1
SIMILAR ITEMS (based on metadata)
Internet Arcade
by Sega
software
eye 5,919
favorite 10
comment 0
Internet Arcade
by Sega
software
eye 8,696
favorite 25
comment 1
favoritefavorite ( 1 reviews )
Internet Arcade
by Sega
software
eye 559,834
favorite 127
comment 3
favoritefavoritefavorite ( 3 reviews )
Internet Arcade
by Sega
software
eye 355,405
favorite 2
comment 0
Internet Arcade
by Sega
software
eye 3,352
favorite 3
comment 0
Internet Arcade
by Sega
software
eye 20,174
favorite 34
comment 1
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 1 reviews )
Internet Arcade
by Sega
software
eye 316,870
favorite 8
comment 0
Internet Arcade
by Sega
software
eye 12,350
favorite 45
comment 3
favoritefavoritefavorite ( 3 reviews )
Internet Arcade
by Stern Electronics
software
eye 306,244
favorite 2
comment 0
Internet Arcade
by Sega
software
eye 300,388
favorite 53
comment 3
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 3 reviews )